Dale’s first return fixture of the season at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday will be refereed by the superbly named ALAN DALE.

No, he’s not the bloke who played Jim Robinson in Neighbours, but an Ipswich-based official who has been refereeing in the National League since 2017/18.

Alan was injured in the first half of last season, but when he returned to duties in the New Year, he divided his time between National League and Premier League 2 fixtures.

One of his seven games in the fifth tier was the play-off eliminator between Solihull Moors and FC Halifax Town.

We have already seen Alan once this season as he refereed Dale’s 1-0 win at Yeovil on August Bank Holiday Monday.

That was one of seven National League appointments for him this term, which include Dagenham’s remarkable 7-1 home thrashing of Gateshead in September.

Photo: Action Images

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